Feeding mechanism for tire building



March 14, 1944.

J. c. CARLIN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR TIRE BUILDING Fi led Nov. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JAMESCCARLIN 1X jfiorwv Patented Mar. 14, 1944 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR TIRE BUILDING James C. Carlin, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Lee Rubber & Tire Corporation, Conshohocken, Pa., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1940, Serial No. 366,215

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tire building apparatus and is mor particularly directed to an apparatus designed for automatic feeding of tire fabric strips to the tire building drum.

In other applications filed on even date herewith, Serial Nos. 366,214 and 366,216, I have described a. process and apparatus for feedin and assembling tire fabric strips together with a carrier web therefor into roll form so that the strips thereof are arranged in groups, each group containing the requisite number of strips for a tire, the strips therein also being properly dimensioned and arranged for feeding to the tire building drum.

The present invention contemplates an apparatus which provides for the automatic feeding of the strips to the tire building drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for the control of the feeding apparatus in such a manner that the operator may start and stop the feedin at any desired point so as to permit the stitching rolls to operate upon the strip or strips which are being fed to the tire drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described'which minimizes the interruption occasioned by the exhaustion of one roll of strips.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portion of the carrier web and a group of tire strips carried by the web;

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a detail viewof the power transmission employed in the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a detail view of the pneumatic control of the power transmission.

The apparatus towhich the present application is particularly directed is designed for the automatic feeding of tire fabric strips to the tire building drum, thereby substantially eliminating anymanual handling of the strips at this point in the manufacture of tires. In prior practice a great deal of time and labor was consumed at this point in the manipulation of the strips as they were being fed to the tire building drum. By means of the present invention, a single operator controls the operation of the present feeding apparatus and of the tire building drum with great facility and the operations are accomplished with greater speed and accuracy and with an enhancement of the quality of th tire.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the arrangement of the tire strips or strips of tire fabric on the carrier web, the latter being arranged in roll form with the tire fabric strips disposed thereon in such manner as to be wrapped between the convolutions of the roll of carrier web, the unit so prepared being designated in Figure 1 by the reference character A. This unit is preferably prepared and assembled as described in the applications aforesaid Serial Nos. 366,214 and 366,216.

The carrier web it carries substantially throughout its length a multiplicity of tire fabric strips which are arranged successively on the Web as shown in Figure 1. This figure shows strips ll, l2, i3 and M which are of difierent lengths and of three widths, strips l2 and It being ofthe same width. This showing is based on the assumption that a tire is being built from four pl tire fabric and will employ for its first strip, strip I l of one width and for its second and third strips it will employ strips l2 and I3 of another width and for its fourth strip it will employ strip [4 of still another width. The lengths of the strips also vary; the first strip to go on the tire building drum being the shortest and the others each increasing in length in order to compensate for the increased circumference of the tire building surface as the strips are applied successively. The strips are disposed on the web [0 in sucha manner that theadjacent ends of adjacent strips are disposed angularly with relation to each other. By this arrangement the strips as they are fed to the tire building drum are each applied in such a way that the ends of each strip overlap each other, the overlap or line joining such ends in one strip crosses the joint of the adjacent strip. It should also be noted as shown at 15 that the adjacent corners of adjacent strips overlap. This overlapping assists in the feeding of such strips in that it has the effect of converting such strip into a more or less continuous web so that each strip draws the strip behind it in the feeding operation. At the same time the operator can easily detach one strip from the strip behind it and stop the feeding operation and perform any desired operation upon the strip that is alread on the tire building drum, such as applying the stitching rolls or the like.

Referring now more particularly to the apparatus employed in the exercise of the present invention, 6 represents a collapsible the building drum commonly employed in the tire building art which is driven by the'motor l1 through shaft I8. i9 represents the stitching roll or a pair of such stitching rolls which operate upon tire strips on the drum l6 so as to compact the successive strips into an integral structure. The structure indicated generally by the reference. character 20 is designed for the support of two rolls 2| and 22 of strips of tire fabric and a carrier web therefor.

As shown in Figure 2, the strips on roll 2| are being fed to the tire building drum |6 while roll 22 is idle and is available for the feeding operation immediately upon the exhaustion of 'roll 2|.

The apparatus for supporting and feeding these rolls comprises a base 23, a standard 24 and aframework 25 carried by arotatable sleeve,25a. The framework 25 carries at one end thereof a pair of brackets 26each provided with an welongated slot- 21 to receive a take-up roll 28. The frame 25 also carries closelybehind thep f brackets 26 another pair ofbrackets 29 forthe support of a loaded or filled'roll 2|. These brackets 26 and 29 may be supported upon the frame 25 in any desirable manner and as shown are supported by means of bars 30 and crossbars 3|. The frame 25 also carries at the end thereof and below the brackets 26 a pair of brackets 32 which support a canvas covered driving roll 33 carrying a driving pinion 34 at one end.

The structure described and which includes elements 26 to 34 :inclusive is duplicated at the other end of the frame 25 for the support of an idle loaded roll 22 and a take-up roll for the same so that when the roll 2| is exhausted, the driving means which transmit power to pinion 34 and roll 33 are'detachedtherefrom, the frame 25 is rotated so that the roll 22 and'its associated take-up roll and drive roll assume the operative position andbecome' available for feeding strips to thetire building drum. The roll 28 now loaded with carrier fabric without any tire strips is removed, a new loaded roll is now placed on the brackets 29 and the apparatus is prepared with a spare roll of tire strips for subsequent use.

The standard 24 carries a bracket 40 and rod 4| passes throughopenings in the legs of the bracket 40 for engagement with the recessed boss 42 -carried on the under face of the frame 25.- The rod- 4! is provided with a fixed collar 43 and a helical spring 44 is disposed between the lower armof the bracket 40 and the fixed collar 43-. At its lower end the 'rod 4| is attached to the peda1145. The upper end of the rod 4| is normally in engagement with the recessed boss42 so as to lock the frame 125 in operative position; When it is desired to rotate the frame 25 so as to bring the spare roll of the strips into operative position, the operator steps on pedal 45, thereby depressing rod 4| against the action of the spring 44, releases the rod from the boss 42, rotates the frame 25 and of-the face of the tire building drum l6, thereby I providing a rate of feed of the strips which is The operator stands in front of the drum' I6 and:

guides each stripzproperly onto the drum |,6.;" The feeding of the strips is always under the 'operators control by means of the handle bari5 In normal operation the operator permits the feeding of one the same as the linear speed of the cylindrical face of the tire building drum Ni.

V The power is transmitted from th motor H to the pinion 34 on the drive roll 33 by means of gears 60, 6| and 62 which drive the sprocket wheel 63. Sprocket chain 64 transmits power to v sprocket wheel 65, which in turn drives gear 66 through stub shaft 61. The gear 66 meshes with gear 34 on the friction roll 33. i

The present apparatus also provides devices for interrupting the feed of the strip rolls While the drum I6 continues its rotation to subject the tire strips thereon to treatment by the stitching rolls |9 or to other operations. For this purpose means are provided for disengaging the gear 66 from the gear 34, thus discontinuin the rotation of the take-up roll 33 without interrupting the rotation of the drum l6. Y

The sleeve 16 is carried by the shaft 61 and is fixedly connected to sleeve 1| by the integrally cast connectors 12. The sleeve 1| is rotatable on fixed shaft 13 which in turn is supported at its opposite ends respectively by laterally spaced arms 14 projecting upwardly from the base 15. The handle 5| is preferably formed integralwith sleeve 1|, the latter having one end thereof projecting freely of the sleeve 1 I, as at 15a, to provide a suitable support to which is secured the arbor 15b upon which are journalled the meshed gears' 6| and 62. A downward movement of'han'dle 5|, will bring gear 66 into mesh with gear 34 to thereby effect rotation of the drive roll 33, whichlatter in turn, frictionally engages and causes the takeup roll 28 to rotate to feed the tire strips over the guide table 50 onto th drum. Conversely, upward movement of the handle 5|.will cause the sleeve 10 and shaft 61'to swing downward about shaft 13 as a pivot to thereby disengag gearififi from gear 34 With the result that the take-up 1*01128 will cease rotating and strip feeding will'be'inter-' rupted. v a

The guide table 50 is pivotally supported in position by a pair of brackets 9G supported byf shaft 13. When the frame 25"is rotated to bring into use the spare roll 22, it is somtimesdesirable to tilt the table 53 into the dottediline position shown in Figure 4; Z

In order to facilitate-and maintain -the g'ars 66 and 34 in entrainment'with minimummanual efiort, air pressure is employed for shifting the gear 66 toward the gear'34'. For this purpos'e'an air cylinder is supported by bracket 8| mounted on the framework 83. The piston 84lacts on the piston rod 85 to force the latter upwardly against the under face of the sl'ee'v'e ifl 'and so shifts said sleeve sufficiently to effect engagement; of the gear 56 with the gear 34. Aifprs'sure' enters the lower'end of the cylinder gar t roug a flexible pipe 86, the admissio'riof-air being under the operators control bythe manual poppetvalve 81 located for convenience on the'handl' 511 ofthe operating lever, the compressed airbeing supsupply (not shown) by way of a flexible conduit SEaleading to the valve 8'1. Preferably, the piston rod 85 is fitted at its free end with a shoe 85a for engagement with the sleeve "it, as is most clearly shown in Figure 5.

In operation when it is desired to feed a strip of the fabric the operator depresses the handle at the same time depressing the poppet valve 8?. The air pressure and the manual depression of the handle cooperate to swing the shaft 61 and sleeve Ill upwardly and the gear 66 into engagement with gear 35. The feeding of the strip proceeds. The operator may hold his hand on the handle 5!, perhaps with a finger on the valve 87 to keep it open, while the other hand is free to guide the strip properly onto the surface of the rotating drum !5. When the operator desires to interrupt the feeding, he releases the poppet valve 8? thus cutting off the supply of air pressure from the cylinder and also permitting the air to exhaust therefrom slowly through the poppet valve. The weight of the sleeve 70 and gear E6 will cause the disengagement of the gear 68 from the gear 3d so that the roll 28 immediately ceases feeding, and the slow release of the air pressure from the cylinder forms a yieldable cushion or dashpot for the sleeve Id. If desired the operator may raise the handle 5i as he releases the poppet valve 8'! to insure a prompt cessation of feeding.

In operation the take-up roll 2% takes up the carrier web 50, increases in diameter and its stub shafts ride up in the slots 27 in the brackets 25. While the rate of rotation of the take-up roll 28 varies as it grows in diameter by virtue of the surface drive from the friction roll 33 directly to the outer face of the take-up roll, the linear rate of feed of the strips remains constant and is substantially the same as the linear speed of the face of the drum it.

Thus uneven and irregular feeding of the strips onto the drum is eliminated with little or no possibility for the cord fabric strips either to buckle or become stretched, as would be the case were the strips fed to the drum at a linear speed greater or less than that of the drum.

If desired an extension 9! of the standard 24 is employed in supporting guide-way 92 which feeds the tread rubber to the tire building drum if; after the several fabrics have been fed thereto and properly treated.

Thus by means of the present apparatus the strip material is fed one strip ata time to the tire drum while the operator is free to apply the strip and see to it that the strip adheres to the drum. The operator readily interrupts the feeding at each strip, attends to the performance of other operations upon the drum or strip and then immediately resumes the feeding of the next strip. After the desired number of strips are properly applied to the drum and properly treated, the tread material is fed to the drum and properly treated thereon by the stitching rolls, the tire being then also subjected to other treatments customary in this art. The drum is then collapsed, the tire removed for subsequent treatment elsewhere, the drum again expanded and it is ready again to receive the first strip of the tire fabric coming off the roll 2| and waiting on the guide 53 for the next tire.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tire building drum, means for rotatably supporting a main roll of tire fabric strips and carrier fabric therefor, a take-up r011 adapted to receive said carrier fabric and simultaneously divest said tire fabric strips from said carrier fabric, means for rotatably supporting said take-up roll forsaid carrier fabric, a friction r011 in'engagement with the face of said take-up roll, rotary power means independent of and driven in unison with said drum applied to said friction roll whereby to effect rotation of said take-up roll, and means for swinging said rotary power means into and out of operative engagement with said friction roll.

2. In combination, a tire building drum, means for rotatably supporting a main roll of tire fabric strips and carrier fabric therefor; a take-up roll adapted to receive said carrier fabric and simultaneously divest said tire fabric strips from said carrier fabric; means for rotatably supporting said take-up roll for said carrier fabric, a friction roll disposed below said take-up roll, rotary power means applied to said friction roll, said power means being independent of and driven in unison with said drum, and air pressure means for shifting said rotary power means into and out of driving engagement with said friction roll to effect rotation of the latter.

3. A tire strip feeding apparatus comprisin means for rotatablysupporting a main roll of tire strips and carrier fabric, a take-up roll adapted to receive said carrier fabric and simultaneously divest said tire fabric strips from said carrier fabric, means for rotatably supporting said take-up roll for said carrier fabric, a guide plate disposed in front of said take-up roll, mean for transmitting rotary power to said take-up r011 thereby feeding said divested strips to said'guide plate while the carrier fabric is wound on the take-up roll, said last named means including a rotary friction roll in constantengagement with the cylindrical face of the take-up roll thereby obtaining a uniform rate of feed of said strips, and power transmission means for said friction roll which is shiftable into operative and inoperative positions with respect to said friction roll.

4. A tire strip feeding apparatus including means for rotatably supporting a main roll of tire strips and carrier fabric, a take-up roll adapted to receive said carrier fabric and simultaneously divest said tire fabric strips from said carrier fabric, means for rotatably supporting said take-up roll for said carrier fabric, a guide plate disposed in front of said take-up roll, means for transmitting rotary power to said take-up roll thereby feeding said divested strips to said guide plate while the {carrier fabric is wound on th take-up roll, said last named means including a rotary friction roll in engagement with the cylindrical face of the take-up roll, thereby obtaining a uniform rate of feed of said strips, and manually operable means for swinging said power transmitting means into and out of operative engagement with the friction roll.

5. In combination, a tire building drum, means for feeding tire fabric strips successively to said drum including a main roll of carrier web between the convolutions of which are wound said fabric strips and a take-off roll adapted to receive said web as the same is divested of said fabric strips, a motor for said drum and a power take-off from said motor comprising a pair of sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket wheels, gear means connecting one of said sprocket wheels to said motor, a stub shaft for the other sprocket wheel, a gear at one end of said stub shaft, means for swingably supporting said stub shaft, and a friction roll interposed between said stub shaft and said take-up rollfor'effecting rotation of the latter. r

6. In combination, a tire building drum, means for feeding tire fabric strips successively to said drum including a main roll of carrierweb between the convolutions of which are wound said fabric strips and a take-off rolladapted to receive said iweb. as the same is divestedg of said fabric strips,

a motor for said drum and-a power take-ofi from said motor comprising apair; of sprocket wheels.

and a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket wheels, gear means connecting one of said sprocket wheels to said motor, a stub shaft for the other procket wheel, a gear at one end of said stub shaft,fmeans for swingabl y supporting said stub shaft comprising air pressure 'means-therefor, and a friction roll interposed between said stub shaft and, said take-up rollfor effecting rotation of thelatter. V I r V V 7. In combination, a tire building drum, means for feedingtire fabrics'trips successively to said drum including a main roll of carrier 'web between the convolutions of which are wound said f-a'bric strips and a take-off roll adapted to receive said web as the same is divested of said fabric strips, a motor for said drum and a powertake-ofi from said motor comprising a pair of sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket wheels, gear means connecting one of said sprock-. et wheels to said motor, a stub shaft for the other sprocket wheel, a gear at one end of said 'stubshafameans for swingably supporting" said stub shaft comprising a manual control therefor, and a friction roll interposed between said stub shaft and said take-up roll for effecting rotation of the latter.

8. In combination, a tire building drum, means for, feeding tire fabric strips successively to said drum including a main roll of carrier web between the convolutions of which are wound'said fabric strips and a take-off roll adapted to receive said 5 web as the same is divested of said fabric strips, a motor for said drum and a power take-off from said motor comprising, a pair of sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket wheels, gear means connecting One of said sprockother sprocket wheel, a gear at one end of said stub shaft, a friction roll interposed between said stub shaft and said take-up roll for effecting rotation of the latter, said friction roll having an operating gear, and means for swinging said stub shaft to shift its gear into and out of operative engagement with the gear of said friction roll. 9. A tire strip feeding apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting a main roll of tire fabric strips and carrier fabric, a take-up roll adapted to receive said carrier fabric and simultaneously divest said tire fabric strips from said carrier fabric, means for rotartably supporting said take-up roll for said carrier fabric, a uide plate disposed in front of said take-up roll, and means for transmitting rotary power to said take-up roll thereby feeding said divested strips to said guide plate while the carrier fabric is wound on the take-up roll, said last named means including a rotary friction roll in constant engagement with the cylindrical face of the takeup roll for obtaining a uniform rate of feed of said strips and a power transmitting element shiftable into and out of operative engagement with said friction roll. I

JAMES C. CARLIN.

et wheels to-said motor, a stub shaft for the r 

